MSP-FOCUSED EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY

VARs and managed services providers (MSPs) who choose to sell compliance audits have one great advantage: Compliance, by definition, is mandatory. That in itself gives companies an incentive to purchase, and creates opportunities for resellers and MSPs to build their businesses. Resellers need to decide which market to pursue, and need to inform businesses exactly what they have to lose if they are found non-compliant by the bodies that govern these mandates.

Small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs) are faced with an ever-growing list of technological challenges. A few of those challenges are keeping IT systems humming, deciding which technologies to invest in, and keeping up with the latest technological developments that impact their business.

As the cloud continues to displace locally installed and managed solutions, businesses need experts to help them strategically use technology in a way that improves the efficiency of their business operations. While smart techs who’ve mastered the wizardry of registry keys and quirky Microsoft technology are able to now turn their attention to the equally opaque world of APIs and policies, smart MSPs are adding skills not often seen in technology teams in the small and medium business market: business analysts who combine high level knowledge of complex technology with an understanding of business needs.

Partnering as an IT solutions provider with the small and medium business client is the sole focus of many integrators and MSPs (managed services providers). Though SMBs have many of the same needs as bigger firms, they are usually less tech savvy, have fewer resources and a less strategic view of their IT. So they are looking to you for three things.

MSP-FOCUSED WHITE PAPERS & CASE STUDIES

Technology is a two edged sword. On one side, the introduction of new applications, devices, and web services makes people’s lives and jobs easier and more productive. On the other, the increase in user mobility, the migration to faster data pipes and the exchange of more information open businesses up to new threats and increased susceptibility to cyber attacks.

Cybercrime is increasing at epidemic proportions, from consumers, to SMB organizations to large enterprises. According to avtest.org, an independent service provider of anti-virus research, more malware was found in the past two years than in the previous 10 years combined. From 2013 to 2014, new malware jumped just over 71 percent from 83M to 142M new strains being introduced. And it turns out Small to Medium Business (SMB) organizations are becoming the cybercriminal’s “sweet spot”.

ABOUT MANAGED SERVICES

Managed services are outsourced services for which the management and responsibilities are handled by a service provider. Some common managed services include professional services automation (PSA), remote monitoring and management, mobile device management, business applications, postage, transportation, database management, information services, communication services, and many more. Nearly any piece of software or business application available today can be offered as software as a service (SaaS).

A managed service provider (MSP) is an individual or organization that handles the management and upkeep of a provided service and is responsible for delivering and maintaining the service. Managed services often operate on a near-fixed or flat monthly payment model, sometimes with an initial up-front cost for setup which creates a consistent revenue stream for managed service providers. MSPs may often use a Vendor Management System (VMS) to provide both parties with detailed analytics and data about the services being provided. In addition to the VMS, the deployment and control of customers' managed services is often done with specialized software known as Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software. The MSP business model has become more common due its success and the consistent revenue stream that it provides. Some value-added resellers (VAR) also offer products and services with a similar recurring-payment model.

Many government agencies use managed services and many fortune 500 companies take advantage of them as well. Managed services can replace the traditional off-the-shelf resale method, but switching poses many challenges including a more complex billing process and a new sales process which is more service based.

FEATURED MSP-FOCUSED PRODUCTS

An increasing challenge for today’s IT solutions providers is delivering and managing effective protection against online threats and malicious software attacks to clients with different antivirus products. Onboarding new client locations with or without an existing antivirus solution, administrative difficulties with separate antivirus consoles and a lack of automated best practices for security updates further complicates IT threat prevention, detection and management.

Kaseya Network Monitoring & Alerts
Kaseya’s Network and Computer Monitoring Software gives IT professionals the ability
to monitor what is going on with their network so they can stop or eliminate problems
before they occur.

In this short video, we walk you through the powerful, full featured Help Desk Manager. Help Desk Manager delivers MSP-optimized, ITIL aligned, web-based help desk and ticketing at a price anyone can afford. Run it standalone or integrated with N-central - on premise or hosted. The choice is yours.